Dangermouse and James Mercer from Broken Bells gave this interview to Los Angeles radio station KCRW just last Friday. Aside from about 30-minutes of live studio recordings, they talk about doing cover songs, what The Shins are up to, learning to play instruments, and a documentary soundtrack project. Here are a few highlights:

Dangermouse: “I’m just kinda learning to play the drums.” In the video you’ll notice he looks kinda funny back there, like a 15-year-old driving a car. Also check out his small parts on keyboards and guitar in the video, but you always gotta support someone stepping out of the control room, a la Beastie Boys almost. And he knows how to take it light: “If it wasn’t my band I’d probably be fired.”

Cover songs Broken Bells have performed to date – FRF encore spoiler alert? – include “Goodbye Girl” by Squeeze and “Journey Through the Past” by Neil Young. Hmmm…. Squeeze….. Double hmmmm…. But still, interesting to hear during these samplarific days: they proclaim that doing covers is an important part of playing music for a band. Here! Here!

On the James Mercer front, and the answer to this burning question may well affect the lives of the hipster colonies in Williamsburg/The Mission/whatever LA neighborhood they live in these days (K-town?): “The next thing I’ll probably release is a Shins record.” Aha!!! He’s also working on a soundtrack for a documentary called 180 South.

‘Nuff said. For the rest, go check the interview.